Drawer counter



K. F. WEBER DRAWER COUNTER Jan. 17, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed June 19, 1958 IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 17, 1961 K. F. WEBER DRAWER COUNTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' fl w m U? T 5 m m w w Filed June 19, 1958 Jan. 17, 1961 K. F. WEBER 2,968,519

bR WER COUNTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1958 W 50 id 37 INVEN TOR.

(01-2 A wig-5E niteti DRAWER COUNTER Filed June 19, 1958, Ser. No. 743,193

4 Claims. (Cl. 312-204) This invention relates to drawer counters, that is, to furniture commonly used to display merchandise and containing drawers for the storage of merchandise. Included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a drawer counter wherein a basic structure complete, except for panels and drawer faces, may be manufactured in quantity, and wherein custom panels and drawer faces having various colors and textures may be added to meet the specifications of individual customers.

Second, to provide a drawer counter wherein the panels and drawer faces may be changed in the event of redecoration or refinishing of the drawer counters.

Third, to provide a furniture construction which although particularly adapted to drawer counters is also applicable to other types of furniture.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse, sectional view of the drawer counter taken through 1-1 of Figure Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken through 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the base construction;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one corner of the base structure;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view taken through 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the drawer counter;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one of the drawers;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view of one corner of a drawer front, showing the manner in which the cover plate is installed;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, partial sectional, partial plan view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of one rear corner of the drawer taken through 10-10 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one of the end frame structures. v

The drawer counter includes a rectangular base frame 1, the sides being formed of four strips of material, preferably wood, placed edgewise. Secured to the base frame 1 is a mounting frame 2 formed of angle metal arranged with one leg secured within the base frame and the other leg extending horizontally over and beyond the front and end margins of the base frame 1. The back wall of the base frame 1 may be provided with a spacer block 3 so that the horizontal leg of the mounting frame is substantially flush with or terminates short of the rear side of the base frame 1. As will be brought out hereinafter, with this construction two drawer counters may be placed back to back. If, however, all sides of the drawer counter are to be accessible, the spacer block 3 is omitts Patent G ted and the back side of the base frame 1 is identical with the front side.

Secured to and covering the mounting frame 2 is a bottom plate 4. Secured to the ends of the bottom plate 4 are angle members 5 having upright legs. Secured to the upright legs of the angle members 5 are upright posts 6 which may be in the form of channel members. The upper ends of the posts are secured to angle members 7.

Extending transversely of the bottom. plate 4, between the end angle members 5, are one or more sets of angle members 8 which serve as drawer guides. The end angle members 5 also serve as drawer guides. One or more sets of drawer guide members 8 support at the front and rear margins of the bottom plate 4 upright posts 9.

Secured to the tops of the posts 9 are one or more sets of angle members 11) disposed at the same level as the angle members 7. Between the lower and upper ends of the posts 6 and 9 are secured sets of drawer-supporting angle members 11. The angle members and posts form an open rectangular metal frame structure.

The angles 7 and 10 support a top panel 12, preferably formed of wood. Overlying the top panel 12 is a top cover plate 13, preferably of metal or plastic ma terial, and having a durable finished surface. The top plate 13 and top panel 12 are bordered by a marginal frame 14 which overlies the margins of the cover plate 13 and extends a short distance thereabove so that the cover plate forms a recessed counter surface.

Mounted forwardly of each front channel post 6 is a front corner post 15. The corner of each post formed by its front edge and its side facing the metal framework is provided with a longitudinal notch 16 bordered by a slot 17. The opposite or rear edge of each corner post 15 is provided with a vertical groove 1%. The portion of each post between the groove 18 and its surface outwardly from the framework is provided with a re-entrant beveled face 19.

Each front corner post 15 is partially wrapped by a cover plate 20 formed of metal or plastic material. The cover plate includes a flange 21 which covers one wall of the notch 16 and enters the slot 17. The cover plate 20 extends from its flange 21 across the front edge of the corner post 15, then is folded so as to extend over the outer side of the corner post, and terminates in' a foldable lip 22 which is initially at right angles to the outer surface of the corner post, but is adapted to be folded to an acute angle overlying the re-entrant beveled surface 19. The cover plate is thus firmly secured to the corner post 15, and, in fact, covers the entire exposed portion of the corner post when the drawer counter is completed. The corner post 15 is secured by screws, not shown, to the end angle members 5 and 7, and, if desired, to the adjacent drawer-supporting angle members 11.

Each end of the frame structure is provided with an end panel frame 23, preferably formed of wood. Each end panel frame includes a tongue 24 which enters the groove 13. Screws extending from the rear or from both of the upright mounting channel posts 6 secure the end panel frame in place. Each end panel frame23 is provided adjacent its tongue 24 with a reentrant beveled portion 25. The re-entrant 25 confronts the re-entrant beveled face 19 of the front corner posts. Upper and lower re-entrant beveled portions 26 are provided along the upper and lower margins of each end panel frame.

Each end panel frame 23 is covered by an end cover plate 27 formed of sheet metal or sheet plastic material. One margin of the end cover frame is provided with a channel-shaped flange 2b which is adapted to wrap partially about-the rear edge of the corresponding end panel frame 23. The other margins of the cover plate 27 are provided with foldable lips 29 which are initially bent at right angles to the surface of the cover plate, but which are capable of folding into an acute angle therewith. The foldable lips 29 are adapted to be forced into conformity with the re-entrant beveled portions 25 and 26 so that the end cover plate 27 is securely fastened to the end panel frame 23.

The back side of the frame structure is covered by a back panel frame 30 which may be provided with reentrant beveled portions 31 around its entire periphery. The back panel frame 30 is covered by a back cover plate '32 having foldable marginal lips 33 adapted to be folded into conformity with the re-entrant beveled portions 31. In order to secure the back panel frame in place, mounting strips 34 are secured to the rear channel posts 6 by welding or other means of attachment.

The end angle members 5, drawer guide angle members 8, and drawer-supporting angle members 11 define tracks for the guiding and supporting of several drawers, the number and arrangement of which may vary. In the construction illustrated, angle members provide for the support and guidance of four drawers 35 arranged in vertical and horizontal pairs. Each drawer is, in most respects, conventional. That is, each drawer includes side members 36, the lower edges of which ride on the angle members, a back member 37, bottom member 38, and a front panel 39.

The front panel 39 is provided with re-entrant beveled vertical and bottom margins 40. Fitted over the front panel 39 is a cover plate 41 having foldable lips 42 adapted to be bent into conformity with the beveled margins 40. Secured to the front panel of each drawer along its upper margin is a drawer pull bar 43 having a lip 44 which overlies the top edge of the front panel, as shown in Figures 1 and 7. Each drawer pull bar 43 thus covers the upper margin of the cover plate 41. The pull bars are secured by screws accessible from the inner side of the front panel.

It will be observed that virtually all of the exposed surfaces of the drawer counter are covered by panels of sheet material. It will also be observed that these panels may be applied after the finishing operation. In practice these panels have decorative outer surfaces. They may be formed of cloth or plastic-covered sheet metal, or formed entirely of plastic material.

It will thus be seen that the basic drawer counter without covering panels may be constructed in large quantities, then in the fulfilling of particular orders the covering panels are applied. It should be observed that furniture of this type is sold to department stores, and that it is customary for department stores to develop a decoration which identifies their stores and distinguishes from other stores. By reason of the fact that the cover plates may be added to the basic drawer counters, the specific needs of each customer may be fulfilled while maintaining a minimum inventory of basic drawer counter structures.

It will also be observed that the panels and their covering members are so mounted that no external screws, or other unsightly fastening means, are required. Furthermore, the panels may be secured with a minimum number of fastening devices so that assembly is greatly simplified.

It will be further observed that the service requirements of drawer panels are severe. Many people come in contact with drawer counters so that the problem of providing a suitable exterior surface which will look fresh and clean under these circumstances is extremely difficult. By reason of the fact that the cover plates may be formed of sheet metal and provided with an extremely durable surface, the drawer counters may be maintained in a satisfactory condition for long periods of time.

Should any cover plate become damaged or should it be desired to change the decoration or refinish the drawer counter, the various plate members may be readily removed and new ones substituted so that the drawer counter may be restored to its original attractiveness.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture, comprising: upright corner posts, each having a tongue-receiving groove and a re-entrant bevel along one margin thereof; panel frames, each having a tongue fitting a groove of a corresponding corner post and a re-entrant bevel along one margin of said tongue; a corner cover member wrapped about said post and having a foldable lip adapted to fit the bevel of said post; and a cover panel positioned over said panel frame and having a foldable lip confronting the foldable lip of said cover member and adapted to fit the bevel of said panel frame.

2. An article of furniture, comprising: a panel and drawer-supporting framework; a plurality of drawers slidable therein and having drawer fronts with acutely disposed side and bottom edges; a cover plate for the front of each drawer having marginal lips acutely folded over the bottom and side margins of said drawer front; a handle bar extending across the top of each drawer to secure said cover plate on said drawer front; said framework including upright corner posts having acute ly disposed edges; a cover strip adapted to be wrapped about said post and having marginal interlocking means including acutely folded lips fitting said edges; panel frames for covering sides of said framework and having acutely disposed edges; and cover plates having marginal lips acutely folded over the acutely disposed edges of said panel frames; said cover plates and strips covering said drawer fronts, panel frames, and corner posts having mutually confronting margins to form a substantially continuous coplanar outer surface for each side of said article of furniture.

3. An article of furniture, comprising: a panel-supporting framework including a pair of upright corner posts, each having a tongue-receiving groove; end panels, each having a tongue fitting the groove of a corresponding corner post; a cover strip wrapped about each corner post and having a lip folded acutely between said corner post and corresponding end panel; and a cover plate for each end panel disposed flush with a surface of said corner post and having a lip folded acutely into confronting and diverging relation with the lip of a corresponding cover strip, and a marginal portion wrapped about said margins of said end panels remote from said corner posts.

4. An article of furniture, comprising: a panel-supporting framework including a pair of upright corner posts, each having a tongue-receiving groove; end panels, each having a tongue fitting the groove of a corresponding corner post; a back panel having ends adapted to be positioned between the vertical margins of said end panels remote from said corner posts; a cover strip wrapped about each corner post and having a lip folded acutely between said corner post and corresponding end panel; a cover plate for each end panel disposed flush with a surface of said corner post and having a lip folded acutely into confronting and diverging relation with the lip of a corresponding cover strip, and a marginal portion wrapped about said margins of said end panels remote from said corner posts; and a cover plate for said back panel having marginal lips folded acutely over the ends thereof into confronting diverging relation with the wrapped margins of said end panels.

(References on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Meyercord July 16, 1918 Knox Oct. 29, 1929 Bales June 20, 1933 Wetzel July 25, 1933 6 Place May 5, 1942 Freeman June 7, 1949 Clouse et a1. July 5, 1949 Norquist Oct, 25, 1949 Clements Feb. 20, 1951 Motter Sept. 11, 1956 

